Lens array and 3-dimensional display apparatus including the same

Abstract

A lens array according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first upper lattice plate including a plurality of first upper lattices; a first lower lattice plate including a plurality of first lower lattices; a first membrane disposed between the first upper lattice plate and the first lower lattice plate; a transparent liquid filled in the first lower lattice plate; and a hydraulic pressure controller positioned in the first lower lattice plate, wherein the first upper lattice and the first lower lattice are engaged with each other, thereby forming a plurality of first regions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lens array, comprising:
 a first upper lattice plate comprising first upper lattices; 
 a first lower lattice plate comprising first lower lattices; 
 a first membrane separating the first upper lattice plate and the first lower lattice plate; 
 a transparent liquid disposed within the first lower lattice plate; and 
 a hydraulic pressure controller disposed in the first lower lattice plate, 
 wherein the first upper lattices and the first lower lattices are engaged with each other thereby forming first regions. 
 
     
     
       2. The lens array of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first upper lattice plate, the first lower lattice plate, and the first membrane is transparent. 
     
     
       3. The lens array of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first lower lattices comprises a passage. 
     
     
       4. The lens array of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first regions are bisected by first upper lattices and the first membrane; and 
 the first membrane is configured to become convex in each of the first regions in response to application of pressure to the liquid by the hydraulic pressure controller. 
 
     
     
       5. The lens array of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second upper lattice plate disposed on the first upper lattice plate, the second upper lattice plate comprising second upper lattices; 
 a second lower lattice plate disposed on the first upper lattice plate, the second lower lattice plate comprising second lower lattices; and 
 a second membrane separating the second upper lattice plate and the second lower lattice plate, 
 wherein the second upper lattices and the second lower lattices are engaged with each other thereby forming second regions that extend lengthwise, in perpendicular to the first regions. 
 
     
     
       6. The lens array of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the second upper lattice plate, the second lower lattice plate, and the second membrane is transparent. 
     
     
       7. The lens array of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the transparent liquid is further disposed within the second lower lattice plate, and 
 at least one of the second lower lattices comprises a passage. 
 
     
     
       8. The lens array of  claim 7 , further comprising a passage connecting the first lower lattice plate and the second lower lattice plate. 
     
     
       9. The lens array of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the second upper lattices and the second lower lattices are engaged with each other and are fixed to the second membrane, and 
 the first membrane and the second membrane are configured to become convex in each of the first regions and each of the second regions in response to application of pressure to the liquid by the hydraulic pressure controller. 
 
     
     
       10. The lens array of  claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic pressure controller comprises a hydraulic pressure cylinder. 
     
     
       11. A lens array comprising:
 a first membrane; 
 a second membrane partially joined with the first membrane, thereby forming first regions that each comprise an open end and an opposing closed end; 
 a pressure cylinder directly connected to each of the open ends, to selectively supply a transparent liquid to the first regions; and 
 a hydraulic pressure controller to control the pressure of the transparent liquid. 
 
     
     
       12. The lens array of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first membrane and the second membrane is transparent. 
     
     
       13. The lens array of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first membrane and the second membrane are configured to become convex in each of the first regions, in response to application of pressure to the liquid by the hydraulic pressure controller. 
 
     
     
       14. A display device comprising:
 a display panel comprising pixels to display images; and 
 a lens array disposed on the display panel and comprising:
 a first upper lattice plate comprising first upper lattices; 
 a first lower lattice plate comprising first lower lattices; 
 a first membrane separating the first upper lattice plate and the first lower lattice plate; 
 a transparent liquid disposed within the first lower lattice plate; and 
 a hydraulic pressure controller disposed in the first lower lattice plate, 
 
 wherein the first upper lattices and the first lower lattices are engaged with each other, thereby forming first regions. 
 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 14 , wherein the first regions are located so as to correspond to locations of the pixels. 
     
     
       16. The display device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first upper lattice plate, the first lower lattice plate, and the first membrane is transparent. 
     
     
       17. The display device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first lower lattices comprises a passage. 
     
     
       18. The display device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the regions are bisected by the first membrane; and 
 the first membrane is configured to become convex in each of the first regions in response to application of pressure to the liquid by the hydraulic pressure controller. 
 
     
     
       19. The display device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second upper lattice plate disposed on the first upper lattice plate, the second upper lattice plate comprising second upper lattices; 
 a second lower lattice plate disposed on the first upper lattice plate, the second lower lattice plate comprising second lower lattices; and 
 a second membrane disposed between the second upper lattice plate and the second lower lattice plate, 
 wherein the second upper lattices and the second lower lattices are engaged with each other thereby forming second regions that extend lengthwise, in perpendicular to the first regions. 
 
     
     
       20. The display device of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the second upper lattice plate, the second lower lattice plate, and the second membrane is transparent. 
     
     
       21. The display device of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the transparent liquid is further disposed within the second lower lattice plate, and 
 at least one of the second lower lattices comprises a passage. 
 
     
     
       22. The display device of  claim 21 , further comprising a passage connecting the first lower lattice plate and the second lower lattice plate. 
     
     
       23. The display device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the second upper lattices and the second lower lattices are engaged with each other and are fixed to the second membrane, and 
 the first membrane and the second membrane are configured to become convex in each of the first regions and each of the second regions in response to application of pressure to the liquid by the hydraulic pressure controller. 
 
     
     
       24. A display device comprising:
 a display panel comprising pixels to display images; and 
 a lens array disposed on the display panel and comprising:
 a first membrane; 
 a second membrane jointed with the first membrane, thereby forming first regions that each comprise an open end and an opposing closed end; 
 a pressure cylinder directly connected to each of the open ends to selectively supply a transparent liquid to the first regions; and 
 
 a hydraulic pressure controller to control the pressure of the transparent liquid. 
 
     
     
       25. The display device of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the first membrane and the second membrane is transparent. 
     
     
       26. The display device of  claim 25 , wherein
 the first membrane and the second membrane are configured to become convex in each of the first regions, in response to application of pressure to the liquid by the hydraulic pressure controller. 
 
     
     
       27. The display device of  claim 26 , wherein the first regions are located so as to correspond to locations of the pixels.